Rope clamp



v w. H. STEWART ROPE CLAMP' Fiied April 4, 1928 Patentedv Oct. 9, V1928.

"WALTER H. STEWART, F QUTNCY, lill-1SSiCH'USETTS.,`

Born CLAMP.

Application le. April 4,

This invention relates to a clainp adapted toV be engaged with a fined support and conf neet an end portion oan elongated rope .vitli the support in such inanner that when the inain portion of the rope is tensioned, the end portion thereof is automatically' gripped and rinly held, to prevent endivise movement. oi'. the iii-ain portion of the rope away troniv the support. n v .One object 'of the invention is to provide a clainp oit'iinproved construction including opposed gripping jaws, one 'of which is an inner aw, adapted to be engagedwith a'iiied support, and the other an outer ]aw adapted to be caused by tension on the niain portion or rope to cooperateA with the inner priv in iii'inly gripping an'end portion of v the rope, in sucliinanner as toprevent endwise inovernientfof the inain' "portion away' troni the support. Y

' Another object is to` provide improved ineens 'for displacing the outer jaw to release the rope. Y

Of the accompanying drawings forining' a part of this speciicationff i Figure 1 is a side view, showingaclainp enib'dyin g the invention engaged with a support ard with a portion of a rope.

Figure 2 is aside viemsliowiiig the outer jaw displaced to release the rope. l

Figure 8 is a side view looking toward the opposite side of thev clamp, and showing clainp in the condition shown by Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view, shovving the clainp intlie'condition shown by VFigures and 3. n u l rlhe saine reference characters indicate the saine parts in all of the figures. l y

'The clanip support shown by Figure 1, includes a hook 12, and a iiXed bodyv13 'to which the hook is attached. Y The fixed body 18 inay be a postconstitutingan element of a clothesline support, or it niay bean element of any other support with Which a rope is to be connected by the clamp next described.

11i designates an inner jaw having a curved and preierablyserrated gripping face, and aV shank 15, ronione end of which the aw 1li projects laterally. The opposite endv of the shank is adapted to be engaged With a supporting inernber, such as the hook 12, prefer- Y ably by providing said endWith an orifice 16 loosely Yreceiving the hook, so that the clamp,

as a Whole, may swing-freely on the hook.

17 designates an outer avv having a cur-ved face, which is preferablysniooth, and is op- The opposed faces of t 1928. Serial No. 267,411.

posedto the dripping tace of the inner jaw Y 14. The outerjaw 17is provided With a shank 18', ifroniivliich said jaw pr0}ects laterally., and an ear 19, arranged to cooperate With'the shanky 18V in laterally coniining, on'

the 'o'uteifjama portionof a rope '2Ointer4 posedvbetween the jaws. .The rope may be a clothesline, used to support fabrics being dried, or may be otherwise used. v Y p One end2l of the jaw is rounded, and constitutes a bearing across Which the rope 20 inay be bent, as shown by'Figure 1. 22

designates apivot connecting an end portion et the shank 18 With-a inidlengtliportion of the shank 15. f f

The inner jaw 14 is eccentricv to thepivot one of its ends being nearer the pivot 'han' the opposite'end'.

The arrangen'ient is across the bearing end 21 of the. outer jaw, tensioned, and attached to another support, (not shown), the opposed faces of the jaws forni the opposite sides of a tapering throat y,which .is ceiitractible by pressure of the ten# suoli that when the rope 20 is interposed between the jaws, bent sioned rope on thebearinq edge 21,to grip p the interposed portion oi' thev rope;

vThe outer jaw 17 is displaceable `by a .swinging nioveinent of its sh ank on the pivot 22, to Widen said t-hij'oat, as shown by Figures 2, 3 and a, and vthus release the rope.

To cause. the described displacement of the oiiterjjaw, 'l provide a displacing or re lease lever, ulcruined at Qato an ear 25 on the shank 15. Said lever has a 'shorter aiin 26, bearing on one edge of the, `outer jaw shank 18, and a longer arno 27', on Which a pull iii one direction may be exerted by a pull neeinbei' 128, to move the Vshorter armiii the opposite direction,` and thereby displace the outer javv, as shown by Figures 2, 3 `and t. The pull ineinber 28 may be acord or Wire,

vsur'iiciently elongated to permit it to; be.

grasped ata point at any desired 'distance from the clamp and its support. Y

preferably have Vav convex curvature, ras

shown, sotliat limited portions of said'faces are adaptedto inden'tthe'ropeA and forma:

Aployed r:tor various purposes other than Vvthe support 'of lfabrics being dried, Without departing "frein the yspirit 'of the invention.

For example, the clamp may be engaged ie aws' 111l and f 17' with a securing member on the body of a motor truck, to Vconnect therewith a rope employed .as a load binder, the clamp when so used, being preferably of greater strength than when used with a clothesline.y The clamp may also be engaged with a securing member on a boat or other navigable vessel, to hold one end of a rope.- f

It will be seen that'the shank 15 having the-'inner jaw 14 engaged; at its outer end with a support 1Q, the'shank 18 having the outer jaw 17, andthe pivot 22 connecting the shanks between the jaw 14 and the sup-A port-engaging end of the shank 15, constitute a toggle adapted to be rendered active and cause the jaws to grip the rope bythe pressure exerted on the jaw end Z1 by the tensioned rope said pressure tending to move the jaws in opposite directionsto the relative positions shown by Figure 1, and hold them gripped on the rope. The pivot 22 located between the jaw 1st and the supportengaging end of the shank 15' important feature.V

Iclaim:

1. Airope clamp comprising an inner aw having a curved gripping face and a shank from one end of which the jaw projects laterally, the opposite end of theV shank being adaptedto be engaged` with a supporting member, an outer j aw having a cir-wed face opposed 'to the gripping faceof the inner jaw, ashank from which the outer jaw projects laterally,fand an ear, cooperating with the shank in laterally confining a rope on the jaw, one end of the outer jaw constituting a bearing across which a rope may be bent, and 'a pivot connecting an end portheiefore an tion of the outervjaw shank with a portion of the inner jaw shank, vbetween the inner jaw and a support with which the shankVV of said jaw is engaged the inner jaw vbeii'ig ec centric toV saidfpivot7 thearrangenient'beingsuch that when a rope is interposed between thejaws, bent across the bearing end of the outer Jaw, and tensioned, the oppose faces of the jaws form opposite sides of a tapering throat which is .contractible` by pressure of the tensioned rope on the bearing edge, to grip the interposed portion of the rope, the outer jaw being 'displaceable by a swinging movement of its shank on the pivot-to widen said throat and release the raiiged to constitute a toggle. i

2. A rope clamp comprising ran inner jaw, having a curved gripping face and a shank from one end of which the projects laterally, the' opposite end of the shank being adapted to be engagedv with a supporting member,l an outer jaw havin-g a, curved vfaceV the gripping face of thev inner opposed to jdw, a shank iatcrally,`and an ear, cooperatingv with tiieshank in laterally confining a rope `on the bearing across which a iope may be bent, pivot connectingvan end portion ofthe l. lie

inner jaw shank, the inner jaw besuch edge, to grip the interposed portion of rope the outer Jaw being displaceable 'v bv a swinging movement of its shank on the pivot towiden'said throat and release'the cpe, andan outerJaw-displacing lever fulmcd on the shank of the inner Jaw and aw. Y i. y En testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

'Y VALTER H. STEWART,

rooe, said aws, Shanks, and pivot being arl rroinwhich the outer jaw pro y aw shank with a mid-length portion ure of the tensioned rope on the bear`- aving a shorter arni bearing on one edge ofv jaw, one end ofthe outer jaw constituting ntric to saidpiyot, the arrangement Y ite directioin'to thereby displace the outer 

